How much crab boil to use for a dozen crabs?

by Sally
(Bay St. Louis, MS.)

How much crab boil would you use for at least a dozen crabs?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:-I would have to say that how much crab boil you use would depend on what type of crab boil you are using. We have used both liquid crab boil and also pre-measured packets of crab boil spices in a boil-able bag. We personally prefer Zatarain's concentrated liquid. One only needs to use maybe a good tablespoon in your boiling pot and that should be good for a dozen crab. On the other hand, if using a crab boil in a bag, one bag should be good. As with all good crab cooking, try some different things! There's really no one "best" seasoning combination. Try to even make your own with the spices you prefer. Experiment a little until you find your perfect seasonings to enhance your crab eating Enjoy!-ment..."Catch 'em! Clean 'em! Cook 'em! Eat 'em!

Use Same Water to Cook Multiple Batches of Crab?

My pot will only take two crab at a time. Can I use the same water to cook multiple batches of crab?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:-Though, we know there are some who may disprove of this method, and for good reason, but for us and by our own experience, our answer is...Absolutely! For example, on a good day, we will come home will up to 20 Dungeness crab. We than prepare our pot of water with our favorite crab boil seasonings and start the boiling. Since our pot will only hold 5 or 6 crab, we have to do several boilings at the end of the day.

The only "problem" we have had with this is that sometimes we may have to skim off the top of the water and/or we may add a bit more water and seasoning as time and batches go on. The main point being that there is no need to change water for doing several several batches of crab in a sitting! Saves water and seasonings! Enjoy!

Non-Stick Crab Meat and Crab Claw Boiling Time

How long should I boil crab claws so that the meat will come out hole & not stick to the inside of the shell?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:-When crab meat sticks to the shell, usually the culprit is because after boiling or steaming crabs they weren't emerged in cold water right away to cool them down. Try this..boil your claws for 8-10 minutes. Right after boiling, transfer them into a colander and cool them down running cold water over them, then serve. Let us know how that fairs with your crab claws!Just think about it a minute...Your boiling crab legs/claws in sizzling hot water. The meat will expand fully in its shell. If you pull them out and crack them open, the meat will still be expanded, thus, will stick to the shell. Cooling down the shell with cold water will cause the meat in the shells to shrink back away from the shell...unstuck! Makes good sense, doesn't it?

Again, come on back and let us know how it went! Enjoy those crab claws!

How much Crab Boil would you use?

How much crab boil would you use to boil a couple dozen crabs?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:-This is a loaded question that depends on what you are using for the crab boil according to your preference of taste. So, to go by what WE use as asked in your question, this is what WE do...

We usually have both on hand using one or the other in our crab boils.

The first is a netted package full of different herbs and spices. While boiling the crabs in this it doesn't take away the sweet, natural flavors of the crab meat we love. It truly enhances the flavors the crab meat. We would use this crab boil if we are only boiling up a few, 4-6, whole crabs.

The second crab boil is one of our absolute favorites as we love a little "zing" in our crab and if we have quite a few, 12 or more, crabs to boil. We add this to the sea salt water after the water is about to boil before we put the crabs in. Note, this boil is a liquid and you need only a few drops per around an 8 gallon pot of water. It really goes a long way. Adding too much will take away the sweetness, in our opinion, so be careful if you go this route. But adding just a teaspoon or 1-1/2 teaspoons is plentiful and very flavorful boil for that many crabs. And, because you don't use so much of this it lasts a long time, where the above boils usually come in packages of 2 or 3 pouches and lasts just 2 or 3 boils. (This one we could go through in just a few days when we're out crabbing.)

Of course, you can use any herbs and spices to your own desires and tastes as well. Just don't over do it with the spices you choose, you don't want to take away from the natural sweet flavors of the crabs.Hope this helps! Do Enjoy!

Boiling crab with coconut milk

I have been told to use coconut milk to boil crabs. Does this have a good flavor?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:-Boiling crab with coconut milk? That's a new one for us here at Crab-O-Licious.com! Very interesting idea, though! To boil the crabs that way would take an aweful lot of coconut milk. And also makes us wonder if it would truly be worth the cost? After all, when you boil crabs whole, you are doing the best you can to clean out any and all bacterias...Seems to us a waste of cost, however, if it's affordable...To dig a bit deeper here, perhaps AFTER the boil and "steaming" the legs in coconut milk? This would be after cleaning the crabs and boiling them and reducing down to just the crab legs. Now it sounds more reasonable, to us anyway! Interesting!

When to add beer to the water when boiling crab?

by Rudy
(NYC)

When is it best to add beer when boiling crabs?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:-Personally, have never tried this or heard of this before but, hey, why not? So despite my lack of experience in boiling crab this way I am going to give you best culinary guess.

Since adding beer (or wine) to any dish has nothing to do with the alcohol involved and everything to do with the added flavor enhancement, I would suggest adding your beer to your boiling pot right away before boiling along with your crab boil spices to give it time to permeate throughout the water and be consistently blended with your other spices. This will also give it time through the boiling process to cook off the alcohol. Adding beer to crab boil sounds interesting and may have to try this some time! Enjoy that crab! "Catch 'em! Clean 'em! Cook 'em! Eat 'em!"

Crabs and Legs Falling Off While Boiling

by Arlene Martin
(Plymouth, Mass.)

I lose a lot of claws from crabs while cooking them. I make sure the water is boiling before I add them and then time them again after water reboils.

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:- Because your dilemma piqued my interest, I decided to dig deeper and see what I could find. First of all let me state that based on your geographic location I have to believe you are talking about Blue Crab which was not clear in you original question. As it turns out, legs and claws falling off is apparently not that uncommon in blue crab and there is a very simple fix to the problem!

Simply cool the live crab IMMEDIATELY BEFORE boiling! Shortly beforre you are ready to add the crabs to the boiling water, chill them ice or better yet, ice water. When the become "sluggish" from the cold, they are ready to boil and will hold their claws - every time! Our thanks to Jerarld & Glenda Horst for this particular bit wisdom. We highly suggest to those interested in particuraly in Blue Crab to grab their book, Louisiana Seafood Bible, The: Crabs

More Crab Questions

How long can a crab be dead before its no good to cook?How long before the crab releases toxins that makes it no good to eat? How can you tell the crabs are good after you cook them?

Crab-O-Licious Reply-Hi Jon! Thanks for visiting Crab-O-Licious.com. You have 3 questions here and I do have answers, so bear with me!Your first crab question about how long a crab can be dead before it's no longer any good to cook...Truth is, as soon as the crab is no longer alive it will start releasing toxins. With this said I wouldn't give a dead crab that's been dead for more than 5 or 10 minutes or longer any thought of wasting time and effort on. It just really isn't worth the risk. Some have said, as I've read in books, that they can be dead for up to 20 minutes before considering throwing them out and counting them a loss, but we beg to differ and have and will throw them out as soon as we know if we have one dead. That's just us! It's not worth any of our children or grandchildren health to risk on one bad crab!Your second question....How long before the crab releases toxins that makes it no good to eat? I think we answered that one in the above answer. Your 3rd question....How can you tell the crabs are good after you cook them?Crabs are good after and while boiling them. The crabs shells will turn a bright/dark red color. This happens after boiling them for about 20 (a bit longer, around 30 for snow or king as they are bigger crabs than like Dungeness or Blue Crab) minutes at a full rumble boil. Careful that the pot don't boil over, though. You may have to adjust the heat, but keep them boiling. Hope this helps! Enjoy!

OK to reheat lump crab meat?

by Beth
(Shelton, WA)

I am heating previously frozen crab meat that has already been shelled. Is this Okay?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:- Absolutely! At our house we often pre-shell crab meat and the package it, vacuum seal it and freeze it for later use. This way one can always have good "fresh" crab meat, pre-portioned for use in tons of recipes with the hassle of having to shell crab before getting down to the real cooking. Enjoy that crab meat!

Boiling Raw and Frozen Crab Claws and Legs

by Dik
(Brisbane Qld Australia)

Can I boil crab claws and legs that have been frozen raw and if so, how long after they have been frozen can I boil them?

Crab-o-Licious.com Replied:-Absolutely! In fact, if you know you are going to be out on the water crabbing, cruising and enjoying life for a few days, or, if you just really don't have the time to boil your crab when you get home from a day of successful crabbing, then we highly recommend that you do the following: If still out crabbing, clean your crab "live" and keep them on ice until you get home to cook or freeze them. OR if pressed for time, clean your crab "live" and freeze them right away for Enjoy!-ing later. We also recommend vacuum sealing your crab (whether raw or cooked) to preserve their freshness! As for how long after freezing your crab can you still boil them; We here at Crab-O-Licious have Enjoy!-ed crab for up to a year after freezing/vacuum sealing! Both raw and cooked. Just as good as the day we caught them! Hope this helps! Enjoy the crab! "Catch 'em! Clean 'em! Cook 'em! Eat 'em!"